Pitching a global framework for the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said there is a need for a concrete plan to stop the misuse of AI as the technology has the potential to threaten global security as well.

“AI has several positive impacts, but it has many negative impacts too which is a matter of concern. Besides the challenge of deepfakes, cyber security, and data theft, AI tools falling in the hands of terrorists pose a big threat,” Modi said at the inaugural address of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) summit in New Delhi.

Comments from Modi assume significance as there has been an increase in cases of deepfakes and misinformation using AI technologies. Since India is the chair of GPAI, it is pitching for a collaborative and consensus-driven approach to tackle AI risks as well as approach its potential.

Even as Modi called for a cautious approach towards AI looking at dark patterns, he expressed confidence that AI has the potential to revolutionise India’s technology landscape. In a bid to push India’s representation in the AI ecosystem, Modi also announced that India will be launching an AI Mission to build AI computing capabilities. The AI mission will help innovators develop AI applications in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Echoing the prime minister’s views on democratisation of AI technologies, Communications and IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “India believes in harnessing the potential of AI for inclusive growth. This vision translates into AI use in various sectors…we believe that AI has the potential to address global challenges and improve lives across the world. Through collaboration, we can leverage this powerful technology to create a better future for all.”

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for electronics and IT, said, “India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to exploiting AI to ensure advancements in healthcare, agriculture governance, language translations, and many other real life use cases as a natural expansion of our India DPI (digital public infrastructure) framework of solutions.”

During his address, Modi also mentioned taking AI-related skills to Tier 2 and 3 cities via educational training institutes. “The more inclusive the development journey of AI, the more inclusive will be the results,” Modi said.

The prime minister also suggested using AI to make digital services available in local languages to increase digital inclusion. He said there should be an effort to revive the languages which are no longer spoken using AI.

In a bid to make people aware that they are using AI-generated information, the prime minister also suggested if a software watermark can be introduced to mark any information or product as AI-generated.

Modi said the direction of AI will depend on human values and democratic values. Trust in AI will rise if ethical, economic and social concerns are addressed. Privacy concerns will be addressed if data is secured, he said.

“We have to complete the global framework within a set timeframe,” Modi said.

GPAI is a multi-stakeholder initiative with 29 member countries, which aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities. India is the lead chair of GPAI in 2024.